Chapter 2

Childhood Memories

When no one would give him an answer Lan lost it.

"Would someone tell me what going on here?"

It was then that Terra noticed Lan.

"Lan what are you doing here?" she asked.

"He and Chaud are partners." Manuela replied.

"You're a netsaver?" Terra asked.

"Yeah, why?" Lan asked.

"I don't know, you didn't seem like the type, you seem so theatrical and impulsive." Terra replied.

"You would think that but Lan becomes pretty serious when it comes to netsaver work." Chaud remarked.

"Yes, like the proverb says, there's a time for work and a time for play." The chief said. "And this is a time for work. The darkloids aren't going to give us a break so we wont give them a break either. Come Terra the lab is this way." He said pointing the direction.

"Ok," Lan said as they followed the chief, "no ones answered my question, how do you know each other?" Lan asked gesturing to Terra and Chaud.

"Rae and I use to know one another when we were little." Chaud replied.

"Wait a minute, Rae?" Lan asked.

"That's Chaud's name for me. My full name is Araya Terra Ann Javedson. I answer to Terra, Araya, or Rae, it just depends on the person. But anyway when I was five Chaud moved to my old neighborhood in Metro City; my family was kinda like the welcome wagon of the neighborhood, so one day we brought over some food and Chaud and I were best friends over the next two years until he moved. Since we were only seven lost touch. It's a good thing I never forget a face. But one thing I want to know is can I beat the great Chaud Blaze, the famous child protégé and vice president if Blaze Quest Games in a net battle?" Terra asked.

"We'll see about that later." Chaud replied. "So how'd you get to be a netsaver anyway?"

"I was in the right place at the wrong time." Terra replied. "Before my dad was requested to join the Nebula task force he was doing some research the dark chips back in Metro. After a while the darkloids caught on and sent in one of their low levels to wreck my dads work. He was this short guy and wasn't scary at all, his name was Bubbleman I think, anyway I was there and was able to chase him off. News floated around until it reached your chief; he said he needed some more help since Nebula was getting stronger and all, and since my dad was going to be here anyway he asked me if I was interested, and I said yeah. I have to admit though that I think he overestimated me, I don't think I'm as good as he thinks I am."

"I can see that happen." Chaud replied with a chuckle.

Lan was a little confused. Chaud always seemed to have this "cool" about him. He was very self-assured, and at times a little arrogant, but since he had seen Terra he seemed to become a totally different person. At least he seemed more relaxed.

"Wow!" Terra said as they entered the lab. "This place is amazing!"

"Your fathers lab doesn't look like this?" Lan asked.

"My dad worked for one of those hard-core science foundations. Your dad works for a research facility. The labs have a different set up." Terra replied.

"Dr. Hikari is everything ready?" Famous asked.

"Yes, everything has been set up." He replied. "I'll need to give Terra's navi a look over and then we'll be ready to go. Do you mind if I give Whisper a look over before we begin?" Dr. Hikari asked.

"No, not at all, how'd you know my navi's name?" Terra asked, handing him her PET.

"Well, I built her, actually your father did, he wrote her program and I put her together. Well, Whisper has a clean bill of health, we can begin. So are you ready for the big jump?"

"As ready as I'll ever be." Terra replied a little nervous. "I'm still not really sure about this."

"Believe me it may seem to be a little scary now but there's nothing to be worried about, you're in good hands." Dr. Hikari said handing her a syncrochip, "Ok, then let's get started, places everyone!"

Seconds later Terra found herself in the room where the dimensional area would be set, PET in one hand and syncrochip in the other.

"Are you ready?" Dr. Hikari asked over the intercom. Terra gave a thumbs up sign as a reply. Soon the dimensional area formed sealing Terra inside. "When ever you're ready."

Terra let out a deep breath. "Okay Whisper let's show them what we can do, syncrochip in and download, begin crossfusion now!" Suddenly Whisper's data began to stream from her PET fusing with her own DNA. Terra looked on with amazement as Whisper's data began to take shape, it looked like a jigsaw puzzle was forming over her. Within the next few seconds the transformation was complete.

"Terra, we're going to be sending you some viruses, the more you delete the more powerful they're going to get. If it gets to becomes too much for you, you just let us know." Famous said.

"I don't think that that's going to be anytime soon." Lan commented.

"Why would you say that?" Chaud asked.

"I challenged her to a netbattle earlier today, she's pretty good."

All of a sudden menture viruses were coming at her from every direction with their annoying "Met, met, met."

"Don't those things just get on your nerves?" Terra said asking her navi.

"Absolutely." Whisper replied.

"Then let's make them history, whispershock!" Terra exclaimed, twirling around releasing the plasma in every direction. Once the attack hit the viruses they were deleted one by one.

Next came the elect eye viruses, their antennas shooting out their electrical lighting. Terra dodged their attacks and when she was out of their range returned an attack of her own.

"Wave, battlechip in," she called as she pressed the palm of her hand to the floor and the cyber water sprung up deleting the viruses.

"Wow her power levels are amazing." Chaud remarked looking at one of the monitors.

"How amazing?" Lan asked.

"They're right around what yours and Megaman's were when you started, they're a little lower though."

When they turned their attention back to Terra she had already fought her way through two more levels of viruses and was now surrounded by a pack of spiky viruses. But she didn't seem worried at all. When she taunted the snarling viruses and they lunged at her she effortlessly jumped from within their circle and let the viruses collide and delete them selves.

"Amazing, not only is she a good netbattler but she's resourceful as well." Famous commented.

"Yes she is it's too bad she can't do more than stretch her legs, but we have to stop. We don't want her to have too big of an audience." Dr. Hikari added.

Terra was awaiting the next level of viruses when she heard Lan's father's voice.

"That's enough for today Terra, you can take a break."

"But I'm just getting started." Terra said slightly complaining.

"I know, but the chief thinks that it would be best that we don't use the dimensional areas for long periods of time. We don't want to draw Nebula's attention.

When the area disappeared she started to make her way out and back to the observation deck.

"So how'd I do?" she asked.

Dr. Hikari was about to make a reply when something unexpected happened. The darkloids dimensional area generators rose form the ground encompassing all of Sci-Lab inside a dimensional area.

"What's going on?" Terra asked when neon color flooded the room and tension began to fill the air.

"I don't know, but whatever it is it isn't good." Famous replied.

Since Terra hadn't removed her syncrochip from her PET she instantly regained her crossfusion and not a second too soon. All of a sudden a fire blast hit her square in the back knocking her into the wall. When the ringing in her ears stopped all she could hear was maniacal laughter and turning around she came face-to-face to who it belonged to. Burnerman - she had heard about him and knew he wasn't someone you fooled around with.

"What are you doing here?" Lan demanded instantly activating his crossfusion.

"Well when I noticed that a dimensional area was in use I wanted to know what was going on. Come to find out that you're training another netsaver brat, to bad she'll be deleted before she gets her first mission. Burning jet!" he exclaimed as he flew toward her.

"Everyone get out of here!" Chaud exclaimed, activating his crossfusion as well, "Terra run!"

Terra listened to him and took off down the hall just barely escaping Burnerman's attack.

"Oh, no you don't." Burnerman said noticing Terra trying to escape. "Flame tower!" he exclaimed setting the hall ahead of her on fire and blocking her path. With her route of escape gone Terra was left with no choice but to retaliate.

"Whispershock!" she exclaimed as she unleashed her energy stream.

When Burnerman saw the purple energy dissipate he started to laugh. "AHAHAHAHAHAH how could someone like you be a netsaver you're a complete spaz!"

"You would think that wouldn't you?" Terra questioned as she watched her energy enter Burnerman's body.

"!" He yelled out as her attack took effect. "You're going to pay for that you little brat."

"No she's not." Lan voice replied from behind him. "You're going to learn never to mess with a net saver. Megabuster!"

"That goes for me too! Sonic boom" Chaud called out making his attack. Lan and he had gotten the chief and the others to safety and had come back to help Terra.

"Sorry but my fight isn't with you, it's with her. Firetower!" he exclaimed.

The attack came so suddenly that they were both caught off guard. Soon they found themselves against a wall.

"You know you're pretty good." Burnerman said commending Terra. "But you won't be for long." Then seven darkchips appeared before him. "I was saving these but I was told to take care of you, and that's exactly what I intended to do." He said absorbing them all. "Nothing's going to stand in my way."

"He's absorbing seven darkchips!" Chaud questioned, "I've never seen a darkloid take on so many."

Soon he had gathered all his energy into one attack that he was sure would finish off Terra for good. "Firestorm!" He exclaimed as he focused the attack solely on Terra.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH H!" she cried when the attack slammed into her from every direction. The force of the blast was so strong that it blew her straight through a wall, and Lan and Chaud were left to look on in horror as she remained motionless on the ground.

"Terra!" Lan and Chaud exclaimed together.

Then Lan father's voice came over the intercom.

"Lan, Chaud, you have to do something! Terra's crossfusion is becoming unstable is he attack her without it she'll be done for!"

"We're on it!" they replied.

"I'll get Burnerman's attention. You take care of Terra." Chaud said.

"Right!" Lan replied going off.

"Hey burnout!" Chaud called. When Burnerman turned around Chaud tacked him.

"Terra are you alright?" Lan asked when he reached her but she didn't answer.

"Get off me you brat!" Burnerman said activating his dark aura and throwing Chaud off him and knocking him out in the process. After that he turned his attention back to Terra.

When Lan saw that he was coming he started to shake Terra.

"Come on wake up." He exclaimed.

"Get off of her!" Burnerman yelled as he shot cyberfire toward Lan. Lan was hit but he didn't move, he had to do something and he had to do it fast. He got an idea but wasn't sure how it would turn out.

"DoubleSoul, ProtoSoul, battlechip in, download!" Lan exclaimed.

"Lan we've never done that crossfused before, are you sure?"

"No, but what choice do we have? What we've been doing isn't enough!" Lan shouted back soon being engulfed in a bright light as his uniform changed to that of ProtoSoul Megaman.

"This is incredible." Famous said as they watched the battle from the underground shelter. "I didn't think that double soul could be applied while in crossfusion."

"Well you never know what you can and can't do until you try it." Dr. Hikari replied.

Soon Terra regained consciousness but was confused when she saw that Lan's uniform had changed.

"What's going on?" she asked.

"It's double soul, it happen when two navi's data combines." When he saw that the confusion on Terra's face didn't disappear he continued. "Don't worry I'll explain later. Stay behind me."

"You don't have to tell me twice." Terra replied as she remained where she was.

"This is sure to take care of you." Lan stated as he called up a variable sword. "Sonic Boom!" he exclaimed as he thew the blast Burnerman's way. The sound wave knocked the darkloid off his feet doing a bit of damage but it wasn't enough, Burnerman still got up.

"Hahaha, that's all you've got? I expected more. Flame tower!" The dark navi exclaimed as he called up the attack, it forming under Lan catching him by surprise knocking him away from Terra disorienting him in the process. Burnerman chuckled as he watched Lan flounder before turning his attention back to Terra, activating the fire swords in his hands. "And now it's your turn."

Terra could only look on in fear, she still couldn't move enough to defend herself due to the attack she'd received earlier.

"Goodbye brat." he stated as he prepared to strike her, but just as he was about to make his move a narrow plasma stream pierced his chest dead in the center if his crest. Soon his frame began to shudder. "You..." he growled, "I'll get you for this!" Burnerman exclaimed before he disappear.

"Burnerman logging out."

Terra looked behind her to see Chaud still kneeling with a zeta cannon still encompassing his hand.

"Thank you."

Chaud smirked, "Anytime."

"I never expected that Nebula would ever make an attack like this." The chief said when everyone had made their way back to the observation deck and was surveying the damage that the battle had caused. "They're getting bolder by the day."

"Hey, at lest something good came out of it," Chaud said, "our newest netsaver was able to show her true colors."

"Some true colors I have." Terra replied. "I ended up being being a damsel in distress."

"Yes maybe," the chief said as he turned his attention to Terra. "This was more than anyone should have to deal with on the first day and I wish I could tell you that things will get easier Terra, but they won't. I know that were asking a lot of you, and I still want you here. But I'm a reasonable man, if you want it back out you're welcome, to no one will think any less of you."

"Are you kidding me?" Terra asked, "Damsel or not I still live for this kind of stuff."

The chief smiled. "I'm glad to hear that, if you really think you can handle Nebula, welcome to the team."

TBC